Prowler Ultra 4.7

Prowler Ultra 4.7 – innovations galore

As an active kayak fisher, I like to keep abreast of any new fishing kayaks coming onto the New Zealand market.

Since this sport has a worldwide following, I also take a keen interest in fishing kayaks developed by other countries to get a better idea of how our designs stack up against the competition.

Well, we might be relatively late starters in this sport, but from the designs I have seen in the last few years we are right up there with the best. What’s more, since I had a chance to test-fish the new Prowler Ultra 4.7 by Ocean Kayak, I believe this kayak is leading the pack.

Ocean Kayak’s American parent company, Johnson Watercraft, has given its New Zealand branch free rein to develop this new fishing kayak, which underscores this country’s growing international boat-building reputation.

The Ultra is of rotationally-moulded polyethylene construction and based on the very successful Prowler hull, but incorporates a little more volume up front, better spray deflection and a more pronounced tail fin to aid tracking. As an industry first, the Ultra sports an exchangeable sacrificial wear strip on its tail fin to protect this area from damage when the kayak is dragged over rough ground.

Like all Prowlers, this kayak is very stable, and with a 4.7m length and a 73cm beam it is also fast, making it an ideal vessel for offshore gamefish expeditions. Our rather unscientific GPS test runs between the Prowler Elite 4.5 and the Ultra, conducted under varying wind and wave conditions, suggest that the Ultra is one kilometre per hour – or about 15% faster – than the Elite. Put another way, that extra efficiency can be God-sent when conditions deteriorate on the way home.

The kayak was not tested in the surf, but its hull design is close enough to that of the Elite to assume its performance in the surf will be very similar.

The underside of the hull is a bit flatter than the Elite, but it still retains a good rocker at both ends, helping the kayak to climb oncoming waves instead of diving into them, as straight hulls seem to do. The scupper openings have venturi indents that suck all the water out of the wells when the kayak is in motion. Like the Elite, there is a dedicated transducer scupper that will now accommodate transducers of all popular fish-finder makes and models.

So much for the wet part of the hull, which is really the domain of naval architecture. As a user, my real excitement about the Ultra starts topside. Its features and layout are things I can rationalise, critically scrutinise and evaluate. A fishing kayak is such a small vessel that only truly useful features deserve to be on it. If their design is also highly proficient, this will be reflected in the overall performance and user appeal of the total kayak package.

It becomes immediately apparent that the Ultra is a beautifully-finished kayak. Every component is carefully designed to become an integral part of the vessel, not a belated tack-on. The carry handles and the position of the flush gunwale rod holders are typical of the overall attention to detail. I have been told there are 118 nut inserts (including those used in the rod holders) throughout the hull. These threaded inserts are not only stronger, but also totally supersede the need for rivets and well nuts with their requisite holes, which are an ever-present source of leaks.

On the Ultra, the designers have seriously dealt with the question of fish storage by incorporating a totally insulated fish pod in its rear well. Cool fish storage is not such an issue in the colder season, but is vital during the hot summer months. I have for some time questioned whether the much-used insulated well cover keeps the heat out or, quite possibly, allows the temperature from, say, 20-degree water flooding the well bottom, and for the even higher transmitted hull temperature, to be contained inside this covered fish hold. After all, what is the point of catching some of the planet’s tastiest fish when their eating quality rapidly deteriorates due to inadequate after-catch care?

Another innovative feature, that will be hailed by many live-bait fishing enthusiasts, is a small, lidded well behind the seat. This scuppered well has a connection for a small hand pump that fills the well with about 15 strokes. A few strokes every so often will keep a few baitfish in good condition without the need for more complicated aeration equipment.

When not required as a bait tank, the well becomes a handy storage facility for an anchor or berley system, along with other odds and ends.

The test boat came with a new deluxe seat that rests on a slightly higher hull base than that of the P13 or the Elite. Whilst this makes for an extra-dry ride, I believe that the older Prowler seats stay dry enough. There is a trade-off between seat height and stability. Given the same hull dimensions, the higher the body weight is located above the water line, the less stable a kayak will be. This said, I still found the Ultra a very stable fishing platform.

Moving forward, the Ultra now sports a deep centre well. The bottom of this well has an extra sunken compartment that can securely hold two 12-volt batteries. At the seat-end wall of this well, my test kayak had an inbuilt nine-foot-long rod tube extending towards the rear. According to the company, this tube and the adjoining well is spacious enough to hold two rods and their reasonably sized reels.

However, what really grabbed my attention was the well’s lid. It is not only hinged at the bow end, but, more importantly, because of its unique hinge system, the lid can also be turned 180 degrees. This permits both sides to be used, with one side holding a range of tools secured under bungies, while the other houses the electronics display screen and whatever else fits in the remaining space. So, prior to negotiating the surf zone, all it takes is to turn the lid on its own axis, close it, and the folded display is safely contained beneath the sealed lid – a truly ingenious idea.

Forward of the centre well is the transducer scupper that Johnson Watercraft NZ has pioneered for all its locally-built Prowlers.

On either side of the centre-console are the foot wells, which are flatter and have low heel braces beside the narrow drainage channels. I am delighted that the Ultra now features flush gunwale rod holders sited within easy reach from the seat. Inside the foot well are several small indents and mini-compartments that can serve as additional storage. Near the bow the Ultra has retained the traditional oval forward hatch, which is now secured with a single cross-strap system instead of two individual straps. Beneath the hard top is an elasticised neoprene cover, which although very waterproof, will try the patience of a saint when being stretched over the opening. Surely, there must be simpler ways to seal a hatch cover?

My test kayak was ruddered, which is probably a good idea for a longer hull, even if it adds more weight and increases the potential for line tangles and damage in a surf roll over.

I must emphasise that due to the tight magazine deadline for this review, my test kayak was not completely finished. For the fish pod I only had a picture of a mock-up and some technical information about the material. However, it does not take much imagination to realise that this pod is going to be the bee’s knees for safe fish storage.

I am sure over the coming months the company will get good feedback from users. This can only improve an already excellent fishing kayak that, even in its present form, raises the bar for others to jump.

Looking into the future, the Ultra has some unique and highly useful features that I would hope find their way into the company’s new fishing kayaks, such as a slightly shorter version of the present Prowler Ultra 4.7.

	This article is reproduced with permission of New Zealand Fishing News 2009 - by Herb Spannagl Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited